The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-02-16
FARMERS, INSTITUTE.
Interesting Meeting In this City Yes
terday.
PAPERS Read by Well Known Agrl-
cuIturists.
A Good Attendance Despite tire
Weather.

A farmers institute was held in the NUM-
cipal Court room yesterday under the aus
pieces of the Board of Agriculture, Messrs.
Harris and Holla nd of the Board being in
attendance. There wasa good attendance of
farmers notwithstanding the rain, ana
among them were some Of the best known
ones in the State. The papers were careful
ly prepared and ably discussed, and the ses-
sions lasted all day and evening. William
W. Harris of the Board presided
MORNING SESSION.
The meeting gas called to order by Mr.. w.
w. Harris promptly at 10 o'clock
Among the prominent farmers present
were Hon. E. Cushman, president of the
Plymouth County Agricultural Society of
| Plymouth, Mass; w. D. Phlbrook. Boston;
Hon. r. w. Murch, Hampden; Gen. John
| Marshall Brown, Falmouth; A. X. Walker
and Daniel Lowell of Westbrook; ii. A.
Hart, Horace Milliken, George Adams, Benz.
Adams, l.. d. bennett of Deering; M. p.
Hunnewell, Scarboro; Capt. Sweetser, Capt.
Skillings, and Mr.. Barstow of North Var
mouth; G. w. Deering, r. A. Fogg, A. k P.
Libby and Ii. b. johnson of Gorham; DIR.
G. III. Bailey. Portland; Mr. Dumont super
intendent of the Shaker farm, New Glouces-
ter; +. p Emery of Buxton; Darius Lowell
and Mr.. Griggs, Westbrook, and many
others.
MIR. W. W. HARRIS REMARKS
Mr.. Harris said there seemed to be con-
spiracy against holding an institute in Port
land; the elements conspired, a previous en-
| gagement of Reception Hall drove the farm
ers into the Municipal Courtroom; and the
gentleman who directs the work of the
| Board, and also arrived in Portland Mon
| day, to attend the meeting, was called to Au-
| gusta on important business. The morn
ing's programme, he said, would consist of
an essay on the cultivation of the Grass
Crop" by Hon. r. w. Murch of Hampden,
followed by half hour discussion of the
paper. Mr. Murch speaks, he said. from a
practical standpoint. In the afternoon Mr..
Cushman of Massachusetts, would speak on
''Cheap Corn" and Market Gardening
would be presented by Mr.. Philbrook of
Boston. He then introduced Hon. r. w.
Murch of Hampden.
CULTIVATION OF THE GRASS CROP.
Mr.. Murch said he should speak on the
subject, subject of the greatest import
ance to farmers. His talk would be applied
chiefly to the soil; he value of manures and
their different application to grass; and to
waste. He said in the beginning God placed
man IN garden. He;had planted in Eden,
and told him to dress it. Many of our farm
ers go about daily disregarding the first re-
qulrement. Had Adam taken off crop after
crop yearly, without returning as much to
the soil as he removed he could not have
been said to be dressing the garden: he
would have been undressing it, He illustra-
ted the dressing of soil, by the dressing of
man, and said Gods command was as bind
ing on us as on Adam 5000 years ago. If the
materials taken out by vegetation are not
renewed the SOIL VIII not keep up its produc-
tive power. Aroostook crops will fall
off, II the farmers there are not wiser
than they have been elsewhere. OF late
years various experiments have been tried
to restore the constituents of the soil re-
moved by cropping. Commercial fertilizers
have been used with fair success There is
another important matter that artificial
manures cannot FILL These artificial ma
nures are applied indiscriminately to differ
ent kinds of soil and do not restore the con-
stituent elements of the soil. Farm-yard
manure is the best fertilizer. 1t is min
eral and perfect dressing, and the only one
on which the farmer can rely. All the min
eral and heterogeneous qualities are retained
in barn-yard manures which the growth and
perfection of vegetation requires. Farmers
in the future will probably be more careful
In outstanding their manure. Formerly
farmer did not think that all the stock he
sold was so much taken from the nutritiye
value of the soil. If farmer had been told
that he couldn't raise and sell stock without
reducing the producing quality Of the farm
he would hardly have understood it, What
the animal consumes on the farm he returns
in manure. Every way in which the ma
nile hQ ad ic o,4h
after. 1t is the farm bank; the old adage,
take care OF the pence ana pounds will take
care of themselves" is true in this matter.
and even with the greatest care the farm
ers can hardly keep up the productive fertil-
ity of the farm. The lack Of uniformity of
seasons prevents the farmer from judging
just what an amount of fertilizer, and what
kind, will be required.
Barn-yard manure is therefore the only
reliable fertilizer. Fresh droppings do not
readily decompose but, when it can be done
these droppings should be hauled to the in
tended ground. and plowed into the soil
But in winter it should be hauled where it
can be used in the spring most readily. All
and pulyerized before using. 1t should be
applied in the fall and thoroughly mixed
with the SOIL / differ, said he, from many
practical farmers on top dressing, and the
result Of experiments has lessened the num-
Der of its admirers. 1t is the cheapest |
but not the true method according to nv
ideas. A good quality of hay may he pro- |
duced for time by it, but it deterorates
and strong taste is producedwhich the cat |
Tie don't like. My leading crop is hay grown |
the cheapest and most remunerative plan to |
get the best results. i experimental MANY |
ways. My land is rolling and haven't tried |
II In winter. | have applied manure in large, !
medium, small. coarse. partially rotted. |
the quantity was lost by these experiments. |
The best result was obtained by stable |
dressing one year old, applied in the fall, |
c,.oinpletely rotted. The manure was fed on |
literally and the result was good increase |
In the crop for two years when the increase
fell OFF. Ii the manure had been worked in
and applied to the surface found the re-
suit would have been double increase Ny
conclusions are that barn-yard manure
should be worked into the soil as soon after
it is dropped as possible. None of the fertil-
lzlng elements except water then escapes.
1t Is certain that manure worked into the
soil shows better results than put ON top,
science to the contrary Notwithstanding.
Another reason urged in favor of top dress |
ing, Is that the land may be kept more con- |
stantly in grass. This is true, but the |
grass. won't be as durable as when the ma |
nnre Is worked into the soil.
There is large quantity of needless waste |
on farms. Can't it be prevented? The poor |
farmer says: "My buildings are on deelin-
ing ground, and all the soaking down and |
waste goes into the brook" A reservoir NAV |
be sunk at the lower part of the barn ward.
made of plank and lined with timber. and
made Of a size to meet all requirements, say
Sx6 and four feet deep, which is a good size.
containing cord and half, and It may be
filled with muck, loan, or sawdust. The
rich liquid from the pung pile flows into the
tank and makes substance almost as good
as manure pile ITSELF If cleaned out once
or twice year you will get all that addition
al manure to add to your stock. isn't it bet
ter to do this than pay $40 for artificial ferti-
lizersP There is a great waste of dressing
IN the loss Of excrements of animals dropped
State of Maine by this means is great. There
are $4,000 horses in the State used as livery.
gentlemen's driving and other horses. that
are on the highway great part of the time.
one-fllth OF the excrement Of horses is drop